Chance on Fire!

Chance on Fire!

Kanye West and Drake are big names to compete with in the rap game, but one 23-year-old Chance The Rapper did just that at last night’s 59th Annual Grammy Awards. The Chicago native won his first three Grammys, his very first time being nominated. What makes his wins so extraordinary is that he’s the first artist to win without selling any physical copies of music. His album Coloring Book was only available on streaming outlets like Apple Music and Spotify, for free.

Chance can now add Best New Artist 2016, Best Rap Album, Coloring Book, and Best Rap Performance to his resume. While accepting Best New Artist, the rapper said, “Glory be to God, I claim this victory in the name of the Lord.” Then proceeded thank his management team and family who were all in the audience cheering him on. As the night progressed, Chance maintained his humble demeanor and said, “I didn’t think we were gonna get this one so I don’t have cool stuff to say this time,” when accepting Best Rap Album.

Later in the evening he took to the stage to perform, also a first, with legendary gospel artists Kirk Franklin and Tamela Mann. The three did a medley of How Great and All We Got, accompanied by Francis and the Lights. If his night couldn’t get any more exciting, iconic Grammy Award-winning rappers Jay Z, Drake, and Kendrick Lamar all saluted him on his wins.

Had it not been for The Recording Academy for broadening their spectrum from which they determine winners, his free, streaming-only album would have been out of the running. Congratulations Chance!